| Rural broadband has always been a hot topic | | | | widespread support for the upgrade amongst |
| when the discussion of superfast upgrades is | | | | villagers as well as the promise of £13,000 |
| brought up. The broadband companies claim that | | | | worth of funding from the County Council. |
| providing services to rural communities is not | | | | The effect of the grant was to unlock a further |
| viable and therefore not their problem, whilst rural | | | | £62,000 from BT themselves, allowing |
| campaigners claim the public purse should be | | | | Iwade to receive up to 40Mb services, an option |
| opened up to help fund a solution. | | | | that was described previously by BT as |
| In a shock new twist, the village of Iwade has | | | | commercially, 'very challenging.' |
| chosen to go both ways and potentially opened | | | | Chief Executive of BT Steve Robertson said that |
| up a solution which may help many rural areas | | | | it was positive that small communities could raise |
| gain superfast broadband services in the future. | | | | their own cash to get online since broadband does |
| It's clear that to go from 'Not Spot' to 'Hot Spot' | | | | require a lot of initial investment. |
| you need to more than just change broadband | | | | The BT executive also pointed out that BT hadn't |
| deals. | | | | decided where they were going to upgrade yet, |
| Villagers in Iwade, Kent have long been keen to | | | | hinting that they were open to lobbying from |
| improve their broadband provision and were | | | | locals concerned about rural broadband access. |
| frustrated at being left out of BT's plans to | | | | All this points to more collaborations between |
| introduce superfast services across the UK. | | | | councils, local organisations and BT in the future, |
| After learning that nearby Sittingbourne was | | | | as long as funds which can help deliver broadband |
| having its exchange upgraded to deliver up to | | | | projects to rural communities continue to be |
| 40Mb broadband services villagers in Iwade called | | | | available. |
| a meeting with BT to present the case for their | | | | In the meantime, very rural communities will have |
| own upgrade. | | | | little choice but to turn to expensive cutting-edge |
| The two key areas of the bid were the | | | | alternatives such as Tariam satellite broadband. |